St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-07-21
Communicated

| Communicated
EDITOR ST. LANDRY DEMOCRAT:
In your issue of the 18th instant ap-
pears communication signed by Mr..
| A. c.. Kennedy, informing the public
that his co-laborer and friend, 8" his
partner in the speciality of repairing
sewing machines etc. etc. had been
killed, and that che was placed in a
very anomalous position in the way of
giving q correct reply etc. etc"
will try to relieve him SO far as it is
in my power; and in public way as he
seems so anxious for publicity.
Ga the morning of the 10th of April
(the day of the homicide) left the bed
side of Judge Hudspeth to come to
Opelousas to see sick child and to at
tend to some private business. DR.. r.
M. Littell had remained with the Judge
on my promising to return on the
morning Of the 18th, as he wished to
leave New Orleans that morning to be
at home on the evening of the same
day. to attend to some professional
business, according to appointment.
arrived at Opelousas and met one of
my sons in town, he had come for a
physician, did not stop in town, but
went directly home. That night at 3
o'clock a. III. | was called no by Mr..
B. NJ. Lambert, who brought me a mes
sage from Rayne informing me that
must be at Crowley that day by 10
O'Clock II. IN.
| had little more than the time to
| show MIR. Lambert to his room, when |
was called up by Mr.. J. J. Thompson
who told me he lad come with his
brother JEFF. who wanted to surrender
himself for shooting a Mr.. Bailey. |
asked him If he knew any of the cir
cumstances. He replied that in row
jeff. and had cut his head and face
with some instrument and that JEFF.
had shot him. | asked it Bailey was
dead. He answered that he was not :;
| but jeff. was afraid he would die and
was i'll great distress. | remarked to
him. Il must leave here at a. M, to
! be in Crowley at 10 a. M, and back at
hotel Dieu by 7:15 a. NJ, to-m morrow,
| Take your brother to your house and
tell him to stay there until | can look
into this matter" He thanked me and
added: Sheriff in his present mental
condition, | believe jeff. would die if
placed in prison. I hope Bailey will
not die SO as to necessitate such thing"
| went to Crowley, and thence to
New Orleans, as | had promised, ar
irving there at 7:15 the next morning.
| learned the full particulars of the
homicide on the 18th, and wrote to
Mr.. Hayes, my Deputy, to arrest JEFF.
and put him him in Jail. Mr.. Hayes
afterwards found out, had gone to
Marksville after a prisoner; and did
not get my letter until his return on
the Goth. When he inquired for Mr..
jeff. Thompson, the latter had left the
country.
In this ] do not hold myself entire
~ blameless and | am perfectly will
ling to bear just criticism. II | erred, |
it was from promptings of humanity
for an unfortunate whose Affections
we'll known to me, will not fail to strike
hearts of many OF our best citizens, |
much as they may condemn the hom- !
eide.
On my return to OpelOusas, was con- |
fined to my bed for some days. Contra
ry to the orders of my physician, went |
to town to attend to some public bust /
ness which could not be delayed. While !
there, Nh. Kennedy came up to me and !
presented letter as coming from some
OF Bailey's relations in Illinois. would
have read the letter, but was suffering
at the moment, besides, ! felt that the
could not mourn very deeply
the loss of one who Mr.. Kennedy himself
had stated was fugitive from Justice
And right here let me observe, had
Mr.. A. c. Kennedy been as anxious for
me to read the letter as he was to write
a letter for publication, he could very
easily have seen me. 1t is well known
[ have been sick at home for one mouth.
except two days when | went to Baton
Rouge to make my settlements with the
State With the exception of those two
days, have been confined to my bed.
MY clerk, Mr.. Hayes, or Mr.. Wilkins,
who were at the Office every day, could
have given him 'all necessary informa-
ton. To the question, Has ANYTHING
been done towards the arrest of Jeff
Thompson, and how does the case
stand" Mr.. Kennedy certainly does not
want such question to be answered in
| newspaper. If he will come in person
10 me, will answer him fully.
Some virtuous people are very much
exercised because | don't blame Mr..
Thompson for his brothers. escape.
Most emphatically cannot blame him. {
The blame must be mine, and whatever '
sIr. Thompson would not have brought !
lis brother to surrender to me had he ]
thought of the future. He believed it
vas a fight in which his brother would |
,e entitled to bail. And he believed |
moreover, that to put his brother in Jail |
would be equivalent to killing him. His {
attachment for his afflicted brother must t
xonerate him from all blame from all |
ust- minded men.
Mr.. kennedy's friend and co-labor- t
r." according to Mr.. X own statement C
and can give him my authority for T
aging so) was fugitive from justice L
or desecrating homes. Had Mr.. Ken
edy written to the sheriff of the county
rom which Bailey came, and had asked
i'm the question. How does the case
tand, and what is being done to arrest {
;,,, 4, poiIax pI,+ bo go Ioc4 liz l:ta,Axx